Sunday: Ex-QPRs Playing For "England Legends"

-
On Sunday, December 2nd, at Manchester City: to celebrate the centernary of the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA): The PFA Centenary Match: An England Legends team, managed by Terry Venables Versus a Rest of the World XI, managed by Sven Erickson. In the England Legends squad, ex-QPRs Chris Woods, Warren Barton, Steve Hodge, Paul Walsh and Les Ferdinand.

ENGLAND LEGENDS UPDATED SQUAD:
Goalkeepers
Chris Woods, Kevin Hitchcock
Defenders:
Warren Barton Des Walker,Dave Watson,Gary Mabbutt,Gary Pallister, John Scales,Graham Le Saux
Midfielders:
Steve Stone Ray Parlour Dennis Wise Jamie Redknapp Robert Lee Steve Hodge Tony Daley
Strikers:
Alan Shearer Les Ferdinand Paul Walsh Peter Beardsley - PFA

[PFA re Rest of the World Squad

SKY - THE REST OF THE WORLD SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Neville Southall (Wales), Erik Thorstvedt (Norway), Thomas Ravelli (Sweden)

Defenders: Roland Neilson (Sweden), Lorenzo Amaruso (Italy), Richard Gough (Scotland), Arthur Numan (Netherlands), Denis Irwin (Republic of Ireland)

Midfielders: Jay Jay Okocha (Nigeria), Roberto Di Matteo (Italy), Ali Benarbia (Algeria), Andrei Kanchelskis (Russia), Anders Limpar (Sweden), Gary McAllister (Scotland), Neil Lennon (Northern Ireland), Dino Baggio (Italy), Stefan Freund (Germany), Dmitri Alenichev (Russia)

Forwards: Gianfranco Zola (Italy), Mark Hughes (Wales), Ian Rush (Wales), Niall Quinn (Republic of Ireland), Ally McCoist (Scotland), Shaun Goater (Bermuda), Sergei Yuran (Russia)


[The "England Legends" squad as originally named consisted of:
Goalkeepers:
Chris Woods, Dave Beasant

Defenders:
Warren Barton, Paul Parker, Viv Anderson, Des Walker, Dave Watson, Gary Mabbutt, Gary Pallister, Graeme Le Saux, Nigel Winterburn

Midfielders:
Jamie Redknapp, Paul Ince, Dennis Wise, Robert Lee, Lee Sharpe, Steve Hodge, Chris Waddle, Steve McManaman, Paul Gascoigne

Forwards:
Alan Shearer, Ian Wright, Les Ferdinand, Paul Walsh, Peter Beardsley, Cyrille Regis
PFA

SKYSPORTS - Legends on show
The PFA Centenary Match live on Sky Sports 1 from 1pm on Sunday
Some of the world's top stars are to pit their wits against each other to celebrate the centenary of the Professional Footballers' Association.

A team of England Legends managed by Terry Venables are to lock horns with Sven Goran Eriksson's Rest of the World XI at City of Manchester Stadium on Sunday.

The charity match forms the centrepiece of the PFA's Centenary celebrations with a host of football's biggest names lining up against each other.

The list of players vying for a place in the starting XIs for the game billed as the 'Match of the Century' reads like a who's who of world greats.

For England, the likes of Alan Shearer, Des Walker, Les Ferdinand and Jamie Redknapp will all be banging on manager Venables' door looking to start.

Whichever team the former England coach decides to go with, they will come up against a formidable array of talent including Gianfranco Zola, Ian Rush and Roberto di Matteo.

After choosing his squad, Venables, a staunch supporter of the PFA, said: "The PFA is a magnificent organisation and it is only right that we celebrate 100 years of history with an occasion of this stature.

Brilliant

"The fact that they want to use this, their centenary year, to raise £1 million to help young children, is typical of the association and I am delighted and proud to be able to play a small part in helping them reach their goal. It will be an exciting afternoon and the calibre of players on display should ensure that it is an occasion fitting of such a worthwhile event.

"The only problem I am having is trying to fit everyone into my team, the response has been phenomenal - I only wish I had such talent available to me when I was in charge of the full England team!

"Sven will pick a team of world stars but it is up to us to try and put one over on him in his own back yard. It will be a brilliant occasion."

The game will play a significant role in the PFA's quest to raise £1 million in their centenary year with proceeds going to fund a new Rehabilitation and Physiotherapy Unit for Children at the University Children's Hospital in Manchester.

Rest of the World boss Eriksson is also thrilled to be part of the event. He said: "It is an honour to be invited and I am delighted to be able to give something back to the city that has made me feel so welcome.

"It will be strange managing a team against England. Maybe I will be able to use some of my knowledge of their players to help the Rest of the World."

THE ENGLAND LEGENDS' SQUAD

Goalkeepers: Chris Woods.

Defenders: Warren Barton, Des Walker, Dave Watson, Gary Mabbutt, Gary Pallister, John Scales, Graeme Le Saux.

Midfielders: Jamie Redknapp, Darren Anderton, Dennis Wise, Robert Lee, Ray Parlour, Steve Hodge, Tony Daley, Steve Stone.

Forwards: Alan Shearer (captain), Les Ferdinand, Paul Walsh, Peter Beardsley, Teddy Sheringham.

THE REST OF THE WORLD SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Neville Southall (Wales), Erik Thorstvedt (Norway), Thomas Ravelli (Sweden)

Defenders: Roland Neilson (Sweden), Lorenzo Amaruso (Italy), Richard Gough (Scotland), Arthur Numan (Netherlands), Denis Irwin (Republic of Ireland)

Midfielders: Jay Jay Okocha (Nigeria), Roberto Di Matteo (Italy), Ali Benarbia (Algeria), Andrei Kanchelskis (Russia), Anders Limpar (Sweden), Gary McAllister (Scotland), Neil Lennon (Northern Ireland), Dino Baggio (Italy), Stefan Freund (Germany), Dmitri Alenichev (Russia)

Forwards: Gianfranco Zola (Italy), Mark Hughes (Wales), Ian Rush (Wales), Niall Quinn (Republic of Ireland), Ally McCoist (Scotland), Shaun Goater (Bermuda), Sergei Yuran (Russia)


* The match itself will kick-off at 1.30pm on Sunday 2nd December at The City of Manchester Stadium. Tickets are still available - Tel: 0870 062 1894 for details. Skysports